The Town FilesOsceola, Arkansas
City in Mississippi County · population 6,976 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $99,900
- Household income
- $46,202
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 34.5
Osceola is a city of 6,976 people in Mississippi County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $99,900, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks better for young professionals than 88% of Arkansas towns, better transit than 84% of Arkansas towns, more vibrant than 76% of Arkansas towns.
How Osceola ranks
Percentile among Arkansas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Arkansas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Osceola is worth $99,900, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $46,202, which is more affordable than 77% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $846 a month. 42.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Osceola | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $99,900 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $846 | $792 |
| Median household income | $46,202 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 42.7% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Osceola
| People | Osceola | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.5 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.2% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8.0% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.2% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 3.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 4.3% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 20.0 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.3% | 84.4% |
Weather in Osceola
July highs average 91.1°F and January lows 30.7°F. About 52.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.8 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 71 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 64 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Osceola since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 1, 1997 about 9.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 5, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 2, 2006.
Severe weather in Mississippi County since 1996
Mississippi County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3636: Severe Winter Storm |
| May 21, 2025 | Flood | DR-4873: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 5, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3627: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| December 23, 2021 | Tornado | DR-4633: Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
| August 27, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3541: Hurricane Laura |
Jobs and pay in Mississippi County
Mississippi County had 20,139 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $72,605 a year. Unemployment was 4.9% in 2023; in Osceola itself the ACS puts it at 10.5%.
Public schools in Osceola
4 public schools with 925 students, about 10.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CARROLL SMITH ELEMENTARY SCHOO | 1-4 | 267 | 13.4 |
| OSCEOLA HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 261 | 7.1 |
| OSCEOLA MIDDLE SCHOOL | 5-8 | 237 | 9.9 |
| NORTH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-K | 160 | 20.0 |
Towns near Osceola
- Manila, AR16.7 mi · 3,682 people · home $172,000
- Blytheville, AR17.5 mi · 13,406 people · home $119,000
- Gosnell, AR19.0 mi · 2,910 people · home $98,700
- Munford, TN19.6 mi · 6,302 people · home $244,400
- Brighton, TN20.3 mi · 2,888 people · home $214,100
- Covington, TN20.9 mi · 8,663 people · home $185,900
- Atoka, TN21.6 mi · 10,008 people · home $320,700
- Millington, TN25.1 mi · 10,582 people · home $207,300
Osceola questions
Is Osceola, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Osceola scores better for retirees than 39% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 12%. 13.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.5).
How much does a house cost in Osceola?
The median owner-occupied home in Osceola is valued at $99,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,202, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $846 a month.
What is the weather like in Osceola?
July highs average 91.1°F and January lows 30.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.2 inches of precipitation a year and 1.8 inches of snow.
Does Osceola get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Osceola since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 1, 1997. The typical Arkansas town has had 24.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)